Day 3: Graduation Parade & Town Pass

Today was the day that Troy becomes officially an Airman and part of the United States Air Force. The purpose of this Graduation Parade is to be presented in front of the superiors. It was in a gigantic field and there were so many of them!

We then were able to go into his dorm and see what he's been living like for the past 8 1/2 weeks. I've never seen my brother live so clean and neat. It's totally amazing, the boy who left grimey plates of old moldy food in his bedroom for weeks, dirty smelly laundry in his room, and all kinds of who knows what under his bed. It was incredible to see his shoes all lined up, his socks folded, tshirts rolled, everything had its place.

For town pass we were allowed to leave the base with him. The big site down here to see is the Riverwalk, so that's what we did. We went to lunch at this Texmex place on the river and it was yummy but we ate light because the one request Troy had was to get a steak. So after lunch we just walked around the Riverwalk and then we went to the Alamo. Very disappointing. There wasn't much of anything. 

Then we went back to base and bought Troy a suitcase so he could pack up all of his clothes and move over to tech school.  While we were at the BX I bought Christopher a sweatshirt because he's always in need of them! After the BX we went to dinner. We went to the Saltgrass Steakhouse which is right next door to the hotel that we're staying at. He got the biggest steak and biggest sweet potato I've seen in a while. He ate every bit of it too!

After that it was time to drop him off and head back to the hotel. As soon as I hit the pillow I was out. I didn't even call Chris like I usually do before bed. Being out in the sun all day is exhausting especially when it's 88 out!

Until tomorrow...

xoxo

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Day 2: Coin Ceremony & Retreat Ceremony

Today's the day that I FINALLY get to see my little brother! All the anticipation and excitement is boiling over and coming to an end when we finally see him and get to talk to him and hug him!!! We had to get up at like 5:30 a.m. to get to base for the briefing first thing in the morning. It was only about 25 minutes long but boy was it jam packed with information and rules about what we could and couldn't do with your Airman and when on the Air Force base. There were so many rules and where we could and couldn't be and how we could address our Airman (for example, no hugging, kissing, or PDA for more than 3 seconds). After that it was off to the Airman's Run, which would be the first time that we would even get a glimpse of him for 8 1/2 weeks! Troy is in the 331TRS/FLT138. What that means is he is in the 331 Squadron Flight 138. There were 14 total flights that we're graduating this weekend including my brothers. Each flight had a different color for the Airman's Run, Troy's was black. We got his squadron is the wolfpack. They told us it was a good idea to wear the shirts for his flight so we went and bought them!  

After the Airman's Run we had the Coin Ceremony. This is where they go from "Trainee" to Airmen. They all marched out onto the pad as it's called and stood in their ABU's by flight. We were lucky enough that Troy's flight was right in front of us in the bleachers. The ceremony was great they said their Airmen's creed and sang a song, and then they received a beautiful coin that they have to carry with them at all times now. 

After they were released from duty we had to go and "tap out" our Airman. This means exactly what it sounds like we had to go and tap on his shoulder which means he can leave the position in which he was left in. I was the lucky one that got to go and tap him out :) it was so amazing to FINALLY see him. When I walked up to him I had to take a real good look at him to make sure it was him because they all look alike and I didn't want to be that awkward girl to go and hug a stranger lol. But after I taped him out he was free to do whatever he wanted but he couldn't leave the base, this is called Base Liberty. 

We didn't do much, we went for lunch at Popeyes, then we went bowling... and of course I beat my brother (but only once). Then we went shopping at the BX (base exchange) for him because he wanted some new stuff. And by that time he had to be back to his dorm.

All in all it was a good day and I was happy to finally see him. He is a totally different person. He's a man. But he still is my baby brother and best friend, and I couldn't be more proud of the person that he has become and the person that he aspires to be.

I'll update you tomorrow on what we did day 3. 

xoxo 

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